use of a particular form of Sadhana in Devi Bhakti

02-18-2002, 06:48 AM

In the Bengal Vaisnava tradition there is a practice where a serious
practitioner is given an esoteric identity within the realm of Vrindavana by his
or her guru. This includes the following details: age, colour of skin, what kind
of clothes you wear, etc. The practitioner memorises maps of Vrindavana, where
he or she lives, where he or she sports with Krishna, etc. Usually the identity
is that of a manjari, a young girl who assists in the play of Radha and Krishna,
but it could also be a friend of Krsna. This new identity is called the
siddha-deha, the perfected body. It is considered to be the practitioners true
identity. In meditation the practitioner enters this "reality" and the goal is
to enter permanently into it at one point. This "imaginary" world is considered
to be the highest reality, the cosmic drama, the eternal spiritual play of Radha
and Krishna.
Does such kind of practice also exist in the Shakta tradition? Can Devi be
worshiped in a similar way?
If it does not exist in the Shakta tradition, does such a practice exist in the
Shaiva tradition in connection with Parvati and Shiva ?
I would be most grateful for some information.

Kind regards,
Alexandra Kafka

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